Watch and Listen

pamela spurling ♡ November 14th, 2007

Sisters… I pray you will set about to redeem the time and walk circumspectly. Study the Bible – and then as you go about your life… be very careful to take what you hear and read and line it up against the Word of God. You will hear many doctrines, many traditions of men, many wonderful – unbelievable, delightful stories that will warm your heart and make you feel so good and happy. Be very careful to not get caught up in the snares of deception. The enemy is subtle – so subtle that you might begin to believe things you never thought you’d believe but the enemy has made them so sweet and sincere and familiar that it’s hard to distinguish real truth from real lies.

Numbers 23.19 “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”

Be sure. Be very sure. There is only one place you will find the Truth or the basis of what you believe. You’re not going to find it in a message somewhere (though a message might be proclaiming the truth: be sure to prove all things and hold fast that which is good). You’re not going to find the Truth in traditions of men. You’re not going to find the Truth based on your feelings – or, rather, how you feel about what you hear somewhere. The Truth is in the Bible. And the Bible is very clear. And the Spirit of God is very clear. Be very careful what you read – where you read it and what you do with what you read.

1John 2.27 “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. “

Be very careful about the big tents. There are some very big shows going on around the world in some pretty big tents. And in the big tents there are a lot of messages being shared. Andthe big tents are attractive and attracting lots and lots of people. Don’t be deceived by numbers of people. Test what you hear. Listen and compare what you hear with what you read in God’s Word.

Watch.
Watch and wait.
Watch and wait and listen.

Read in 1 Kings, the story of Elijah. This portion is key: (1Kings 19.11-12)
“And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. “

“…A still small voice.” Listen for it. Listen for the Voice of the Lord.

There are many things changing day by day… you will be amazed if you simply watch. If you watch and listen.

2Peter 3.2-18
“That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: 3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

You’re here… you’re other places on the ‘net. Be careful… be careful to not be lulled into thinking or ways that are contrary to the Word of God – the Truth of God. Be careful to not be enticed to believe things that are inconsistent with the Truth of God and the finished work of redemption. Be sure to study to show yourself approved.

1Corinthians 2.9-16
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. “

Listen to what’s being taught (and heard and believed!)Here’s one; a talk by Rick Warren.
And then think for a moment… are you being mislead by sweet, seductiv, enticing or convincing works and words? Here’s an article on “The Most Dangerous Thing in the World.” I’ll likely add some more… but this is enough for now.

Kathy – I see this is very difficult – and I appreciate being able to join you in prayer for your husband. It is a painful ache to see family members deny God or not yield to Him and to His ways.

I often see this that people are drawn to ‘spiritual truths’ or drawn to ‘understanding’ and as you say turn to ANYTHING *BUT* the Scriptures. I believe this is a matter you will have to refrain from much talk or many words. Or, perhaps better spoken, this is a matter for the many words to be *in prayer* to the Lord – for He alone reaches the hardened hearts of men – He alone works in matters of faith and Truth.

I believe you are in the realm of the 1 Peter 3 wife… as we all are in differing ways – that your husband will be won over by your chaste and pleasant conversation. I think that is sort of an exhortation to be meek, gentle and well spoken. I think it’s a matter of prayerful concern and occasional words of encouragement.

You just might listen to what he has to share – to gain a bit of understanding – but then to respectfully, gently share what the Lord teaches from the Bible. Still saying that you cannot listen to/read material that is stand in conflict to the Word of God. This is a very sensitive matter as you may further alienate him. I know it is hard for family to hear the Truths of the Word, but God is faithful and we cannot deny Him.

Lies are all around us… just consider the emergent, seeker, purpose driven, new age, meditation, conversation, paradigm shift and rejection of absolute truth. Many lies, shockingly so, and yet God’s Word is proven to be Truth.

He says that in the last days *many* will be deceived. The Bible says that evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived… in the last days there will come scoffers walking after their own lusts… that they will willingly be ignorant of the Word – and so on.

I will join you in prayer for your husband – and will pray for God’s perfect will to be done in and through him and that he will, indeed, be won over by *you* pleasant conversation and that you will be loving, respectful and gracious to him and that God will give you tremendous patience, wisdom, insight and *love* for your husband – that you will not resent him or drive him away from your heart. I pray just now that God will give you clarity and charity as you care for the things of your home and family. I pray as you are… that God will shine *His* light in your husband’s heart.

Hi, Pamela: I have a prayer request…my husband believes the 7th Day Adventist doctrine that Sunday worship is the “mark of the Beast” foretold in the book of Revelation, that we are to worship only on Saturday. Not only that, he has been listening (on CD) to “The Gospel of Barnabas” and made the comment that it makes more sense to him than anything he has read in the Bible (we use the authorized KJV). My prayer request is this: That God will show him the Truth, and turn him away from these errors. My heart is just sick that he is turning toward ANYTHING but the Scriptures. I have tried to gently talk with him about this, but he just shuts down and refuses to listen. I have even told him to go online and do the research for himself, but he refuses. A friend of his is the one who has been giving him these false doctrines as truths. Please pray for God to shine His Light in my husband’s heart? I am praying, too!
My husband has asked me to read and listen to these things that his friend has given him, but I cannot do that – to do so would be to deny God and all He has done for me. So, I have refused – while stating my reasons why. Needless to say, he is angry with me. Please pray!